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Asiatic Cheetahs Acinonyx jubatus venaticus once ranged over the grasslands of India, Pakistan, Russia, Iran and the Middle East.

The cats have been nearly wiped out by excessive hunting, habitat degradation and scarcity of prey species that were hunted to near extinction by man. There have been no sightings in Afghanistan since the 1950’s, and a 2001 survey in Pakistan found no sign of the big cats. They used to wander from Iran to Turkmenistan but construction of a border fence has made this natural migration more difficult.

The Iranian Cheetah has a smaller head than their African cousins. Their legs are shorter, their coat thicker and their neck is more powerful.

The last wild Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran are now thought to number between 70-110 individuals, all occupying the remote and arid central plateau. Iran considers their Cheetah an important part of its natural and cultural heritage and it has now become a symbol of the country’s conservation efforts. Iran’s Department of the Environment (DOE) partnered with various other groups including the Wildlife Conservation Society and the United Nations Development Program to create a comprehensive conservation program.

Through this project, researchers are protecting the last remaining Iranian Cheetahs, their prey base and their natural habitats by mitigating direct threats facing Cheetahs and their prey; gathering ecological data; enhancing and empowering law enforcement officials; utilizing camera traps and radio-collars to collect critical data on the ecology of Cheetahs; and working with local communities to improve attitudes towards the cats.

See the Iranian Cheetah Society for more information.

 

18 Responses

  1. Kris

    You can help Asiatic cheetah society in Iran
    Follow the link they got a membership program and other ways to assist the endangered cheetah..let me know if you need help to go through
    http://www.wildlife.ir/

  2. Pat Bumstead

    Please see the following pages to see what is being done to help the Asiatic Cheetahs. It is essential for the survival of these cats that the opinion of the local Iranians change. They must actively want to help the cats instead of viewing them as pests, or of little importance. Any external support for endangered species generally involves donating money, but this can be problematic when dealing with Iran.

    Conservation of Asiatic Cheetah – http://www.ir.undp.org/content/iran/en/home/operations/projects/environment_and_sustainable_development/conservation-of-asiatic-cheetah–cacp—phase-ii.html

    Iranian Cheetah Society – http://www.wildlife.ir/en/

  3. Gaby Stewart

    How is it that we cannot offer any external support to help save the Asian cheetah as is the case for other endangered species?
    Thanks for your response.

  4. Pat Bumstead

    Thank you for your support and enthusiasm, but money is not needed for Asiatic Cheetah conservation. People in Iran are saving habitat and introducing prey species for the cheetah. The Iranian government is paying for the conservation work on these cats.

  5. Wwren4432

    What about a fundraiser’s money? I could raise money and send it to you so you can help the Asiatic Cheetahs more! Please get back as soon as possible. Thanks.

  6. Pat Bumstead

    There is unfortunately nothing you can do to help these cheetahs. The Iranian Cheetah Society and the Department of the Environment in Iran are working to the best of their ability to save these cats, but outside help is not an option. Thanks for caring!

  7. Wwren4432

    Hey, I’m interesting in the Asiatic Cheetah and what I can do to help! Please get back to me as soon as possible for what I can do to help this poor, endangered cat. Thanks!

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